Machado / He andado muchos caminos

By far, the Antonio Machado poems we read for class have up to this point been the most enjoyable texts I’ve encountered in the texts. Although I can’t say that poetry is typically my favorite type of literature, I can appreciate it especially after interpretation and analyzation of the lines. Out of all of the poems, something about “He andado muchos caminos” really struck me. In terms of the sound of the lines, I was most impressed with the second stanza. This may have to do with the repetition of the “s” sound and the way the final words of each line worked together; they don’t completely rhyme but at least they have similar sounds. But as far as meaning, I especially liked the last couple of stanzas. The poet is clearly valuing the lives of the hard workers, who get through life the best they can with what they have and don’t rush through their days, instead taking the time to enjoy the things they can before they end up under the ground. On a personal level, this is a sentiment I try to bring into my own life, which is most likely why I appreciated this poem so much. I hope in the future to read some more of Machado’s work.